The Essential Options on the MINI JCW

For over 2,000 miles our long term MINI JCW Clubman test car has proved itself to be the most capable four door MINI we’ve ever tested. But if we were to have ordered things would be slightly different. With that in mind we’ve put together an ordering quite of what we love and what you don’t as it relates to the JCW Clubman. But looking at the list it relates well to any JCW across the MINI range. Lets get to it.

Options we love

Rebel Green ($1000). It’s a color that at times looks like a sinister black and at others an elegant dark green. It suits the JCW Clubman’s personality perfectly. At $1000 its insanely expensive but we’d seriously consider splurging.

18″ Black Grip Spoke Wheels (Free). As much as the 19s looks more impressive, the 18s give you a better ride and still have a great sharp feel to them. The design of them does a great job of hiding the fact that they are required to slightly convex due to the size of the front calipers. The black also goes great with the sinister look of our JCW.

Dynamic Damper Control ($500). We were wrong when we called this unnecessary a few years ago. In our JCW Clubman it’s essential. And that’s comes from someone who has sport mode engaged 90% of the time. But on rough highways comfort mode has proven to be well worth the $500 for this option.

MINI Yours Steering Wheel (Free). We have the JCW wheel but the MINI Yours would have been a no-cost option. And it’s the one you want. It has the same aggressive shape as the JCW but it’s wrapped in BMW’s most luscious leather normally saved for M cars or BMW Individual models.

Rear Foglight ($100). For God-sakes people if you live in an area prone to fog this is required. It should be mandated in the US like it is in Europe if it weren’t for drives have no clue what to do with it.

Piano Black Interior ($200). It’s probably $185 of straight profit for MINI every time someone checks this box but I love the look and it finishes the most rough plastic in the standard Clubman I a much more premium material.

Sirius Radio ($300). You can save $300 if you would prefer to stream from the app but there’s no question this is more convenient – especially it integrates with presets. If you don’t have any need for Sirius (if you’re more of a podcast, NPR or just like your own music) this one is an easy option to pass by.

Alarm. Peace of mind and a little beep with you lock and unlock the car.

JCW Sport Seats – Cloth/Dynamic (Free). Our JCW doesn’t have these as we got the power seats (more on that later). As much as we love the MINI Sport Seats, the JCW Sport Seats are next level stuff.

Packages and the options that matter in them

Packages – who doesn’t love them. Yeah they’re sort of a no brained for those who want options and don’t mind throwing down some cash. But I do want to call out a few options within the packages that we feel are the key ones (especially since the make-up of them is constantly evolving)

Heated seats. Unless you leave a hot climate heated seats are one of those luxuries that quickly becomes a necessity after you’ve experienced them.

Folding mirrors. Essential if you live in an urban environment

PDC with a rear view camera. Essential for just about any environment but especially helpful if you parallel park daily.

Panoramic sunroof. More important for the long-roof Clubman than most, this brightens-up the interior. And unlike the 10 years ago, having a sunroof on a MINI doesn’t mean rattles. Warning – it does add weight the last place you want it.

Wide-screen Navigation. The screen in your car isn’t just about navigation. It’s a window into just about everything it does these days. Paying a little extra for a bigger window is well worth it. The bonus these days is that that gets you the excellent revised touch-screen system in the Clubman and Countryman.

Harmon/Kardon. If you listen to music get it. If you don’t pass on it. It’s not that it’s an amazing option. It’s that the standard stereo is exceedingly mediocre.

Comfort Access. it may sound like a 1st world problem but this is a must.

Options we don’t love

Power Seats ($1,250). Basically any other way to spend $1,250 on your MINI would make more sense. They add weight, make you opt for the MINI Sport seats (rather than the JCWs) and aren’t needed unless you have multiple people constantly driving your MINI.

Sport Automatic Transmission ($1,750). This is the best MINI auto to date. And we’d still steer clear. The manual just brings this car to life and it’s free.

Chrome Line Exterior Trim ($250). This replaces the red trim on the front of the grill which gets rid one of the few unique pieces of trim on the JCW. It also is exorbitantly expensive.

What are your options that you can’t live without? How about some that you’ve found lacking? Sound off in the comments below